Join us for our Fall 2018 session of TLC Parenting & Play classes! Classes are scheduled for Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and run for 14-16 weeks, depending on the day of the week. If you are new to TLC and would like to visit a class before committing to a full semester, we welcome you to register for one of our free demo classes during the weeks of September 3rd and 10th.

Click here for a class description

The Loved Child offers a variety of unique weekly Developmental Play & Parenting Classes from the newborn period through the preschool years, where each class is designed to equally support both the children’s learning through play and to provide expert-lead parenting support. Classes are organized with an optimal balance between group structured play, self-directed open-choice play, and an organized moment for caregivers to receive individual or group support around typical parenting concerns.

Supporting the abundant research on the importance of early literacy opportunities and the value of repetition in early learning, every TLC child, beginning with the Infant Class, is given a developmentally appropriate TLC Class Book to bring home for daily reading and to experience weekly at class Book Time.

Each weekly TLC class has a Developmental Focus, Parent Topic, and Group Developmental Activity– an activity to highlight the weekly area of development (water play, arts & crafts, sensory play, musical movement etc.). In advance of each class, families receive the TLC Weekly Newsletter with evidence-based resources supporting the developmental focus (for example, creative, fine/gross motor, cognitive, language, social/emotional, & nature development), in addition to family-friendly articles on common parenting topics such as Sleep Challenges, Mealtime Struggles, Positive Discipline, and Toilet Training. Home Ideas follow at the end of the week, which often include links to creative and trusted blog sites with activities specific to the reviewed area of development. All these resources, often with adorable pictures from class, are also available on facebook.com/thelovedchild.

Click here for the weekly class routine

The one-hour TLC Developmental Play & Parenting Class is designed specifically for little ones, parents or caregivers, seeking parenting support, and for the opportunity to connect with other families in the community. Children and caregivers follow a regular and very predictable weekly class routine:

Gathering Time & Clean-Up Song: Families are welcome to arrive a few minutes early before class start time to allow the little ones a moment to explore the Gathering Toys while adjusting to the classroom space. To begin class, caregivers and children sing the TLC clean-up song while putting the toys away.

Hello Circle with Song Choices and Parachute: The class begins with a cheerful hello song acknowledging every child and caregiver. Over the span of the semester, all children have the opportunity to choose familiar songs from the TLC Song Cards. At the beginning of each semester, parents will receive their own copy of song cards to enjoy and practice at home.

Developmental Activity: Every week there is a group activity focusing on the following areas of development: social & emotional, language & literacy, fine & gross motor, cognitive, sensory, nature, arts & creative, and dramatic play. Caregivers will receive background information about the upcoming week’s Developmental Focus in the TLC Weekly Newsletter.

Independent Developmental Stations & Weekly Parent Topic: Children can independently explore developmental stations, including a cozy book corner, while parents and caregivers receive support around common parenting topics such as mealtime struggles, sleeping challenges, temper tantrums, separation anxiety, toilet training, and positive discipline. In the TLC Weekly Newsletter, parents will have received resources to prepare for the Parent Topic.

Lotion & Book Time: After cleaning up the room together, the class pace slows for quiet Lotion and Book Time. Every family will be given the TLC class book the first day of the semester. To reinforce early literacy skills, parents are strongly encourage to read their TLC book daily at home. The little ones will then anticipate and enjoy hearing the familiar book at Book Time.